The bad news I endure every February is that workload and family conspire to keep me from making the trek to Geneva for the annual Auto Salon. The good news is that the readers here don’t have to endure my shaky, fuzzy photos. And that is thanks to Daniele Madia, who graciously agrees to let us share his visions from the show. And visions is an apt description as he manages to capture the essence of each new concept without ever providing a simple clear photo of the entire vehicle. So if you want to see what the new LaFerrari looks like from across the parking lot, feel free to visit Autoblog or our friends at Green Car Design.But if you really want to see what the new P1 looks like up close, we are the place to see it.

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C source: Daniele Madia

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C source: Daniele Madia

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C source: Daniele Madia

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C source: Daniele Madia

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C source: Daniele Madia

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C

Over the past 2 years the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept has been the #1 searched car on this blog. And while the general press and public response has been positive, I am getting a feeling similar to when the Boxster production model was shown, “What happened?”. What was a 10+ is now just a solid 9, sort of like Pamela Anderson. The additional cut lines, the loss of the brilliant matte paint or those headlamps, but something is just a bit off. Don’t get me wrong, the 2013 Alfa Romeo 4C is still stunningly beautiful and who can argue with a light weight, mid-engined, sports car with a great power-to-weight ratio. Actual details are in short supply, but not photos. Enjoy.

Ferrari LaFerrari source: Daniele Madia

Ferrari LaFerrari source: Daniele Madia

Ferrari LaFerrari source: Daniele Madia

Ferrari LaFerrari source: Daniele Madia

Ferrari LaFerrari source: Daniele Madia

Ferrari LaFerrari

Sometimes a car is better than its name and such is the case with the LaFerrari (can you imagine the uproar over a diePorsche?). Every inch is spectacular, from the Formula 1 inspired peak on the nose to the ground effects tunnels at the rear. In between is a Hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System (HY-KERS for short) hidden deep in its bowels that adds 160 horsepower to bring the total close to 1 THOUSAND! The nose is sufficiently sinister for the fastest street Ferarri even, although most of what people will see is the tail end. As with the recent Corvette intro, Ferarri spent a lot of time talking about the aerodynamics. Wired magazine estimates the price to be in the $1.2 to $1.5M range – almost big enough to drive a 458 and a California through. I guess if you can afford the low end, that range doens’t really matter much.

Italdesign press conference source: Daniele Madia

Italdesign Parcour Roadster Concept source: Daniele Madia

Italdesign Parcour Roadster Concept source: Daniele Madia

Italdesign Parcour Roadster Concept source: Daniele Madia

Italdesign Parcour Roadster Concept source: Daniele Madia

Italdesign Giugiaro Parcour Concept

Italdesign is back. In Geneva we were treated to not one, but two new concepts. While the Parcour was introduced in red to the press in advance of the show, on the stage at the show they unveiled a white Roadster version. When I say they are back, I am also referring to the iconic wedge shape that has been a hallmark of Italdesign ever since the Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro Concept of 1970. The 500+ horsepower mid-engined concept is based on a Lamborghini Gallardo and resembles a Hot Wheels car (in a good way) as the wheels appear just a bit too big for the body.

KTM X-Bow GT source: Daniele Madia

KTM X-Bow GT source: Daniele Madia

KTM X-Bow GT source: Daniele Madia

KTM X-Bow GT

The KTM X-Bow GT is my favorite Austrian car at the show. I always loved the idea, and now KTM has made it fair weather friendly as they have finally added a windshield. With a 2.0l TFSI engine from Audi, seats from Recaro, Schroth racing harness and a carbon monocoque, the X-Bow GT would be my choice for arriving at a red carpet charity event (provided the event is in California and not Detroit in the winter).

Lamborghini Veneno source: Daniele Madia

Lamborghini Veneno source: Daniele Madia

Lamborghini Veneno source: Daniele Madia

Lamborghini Veneno source: Daniele Madia

Lamborghini Veneno source: Daniele Madia

Lamborghini Veneno source: Daniele Madia

Lamborghini Veneno

Just when it was safe to go to an auto show again, Lamborghini unleashes the Veneno, a full-bore, ultra low-volume beast of a car. Easily the most controversial design in Geneva, Lamborghini managed to make the LaFerrari, P1, 918 etc look mundane and a bit normal. Designed to mark Lambo’s 50th anniversary, the basic chassis has been supposedly been taken from the Aventador. That means a 750+ horsepower V12 and gulp-inducing acceleration. Only 3 will be built, each in a different color making sure there isn’t another on your block. With a price tag close to $4 million I am pretty sure there won’t be one anywhere NEAR my block.

McLaren P1 source: Daniele Madia

McLaren P1 source: Daniele Madia

McLaren P1 source: Daniele Madia

McLaren P1 source: Daniele Madia

McLaren P1 source: Daniele Madia

McLaren P1

My favorite car of Geneva was painted a rather unusual shade of yellow, but I would take it regardless. Not exactly a new introduction, the car was first shown at the 2012 Paris show. With the ultimate goal to be the ” best driver’s car in the world on road and track” I would vote it the best car in my garage – even if it is almost one year old already.

Morgan Plus 4 source: Daniele Madia

Morgan Plus 4 source: Daniele Madia

Morgan Plus 4 source: Daniele Madia

Morgan ’nuff said

While they didn’t show anything new, Morgan did display a nice summary of their history. Any car company where a bicycle doesn’t look out of place when strapped to the back desires a mention here – new car or not.

Pininfarina Sergio Concept source: Daniele Madia

Pininfarina Sergio Concept source: Daniele Madia

Pininfarina Sergio Concept source: Daniele Madia

Pininfarina Sergio Concept

You have to love any car that comes with a pair of matching helmets. On the other hand, as with the original KTM X-Box it doesn’t have a windscreen. Even though it is a concept, it is based on a production car (the Ferrari 458) and the official Press Release indicated the Sergio “can easily be produced in limited series of a few units“. Design Director Fabio Filippini mentioned being motivated by Pininfarina’s history – I am motivated by the lovely air ventilation in the rear as the picture above showcases.

Porsche 911 GT3 source: Daniele Madia

Porsche 911 GT3 source: Daniele Madia

Porsche 911GT3

To Porschephiles, the GT3 variation is all about performance. To the rest of us its all about Dat Ass. Thanks again to Daniele for capturing that.

That concludes our metal models from the Geneva Auto Salon. Thanks again to Daniele Madia for his breathtaking photos. Come back tomorrow to see the other Models of Geneva.

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About Frank Schwartz

Frank Schwartz is the founder of CarFriend.me and Advanced Automotive Consulting Services, partner in The Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment and serial entrepeneur. A long time automotive enthusiast, Frank started reading car magazines at the age of 8 and has spent 30+ years working inside the automotive industry. In his spare time Frank races with the Sports Car Club of America, spends time working on his numerous project cars and supports many local charities.